Sky world and this world: the place of Kachaw in Micronesian cosmology

Goodenough, Ward Hunt

article

Sky world and this world: the place of Kachaw in Micronesian cosmology

American anthropologist • 88 (3) • Published In 1986 • Pages: 551-568

By: Goodenough, Ward Hunt.

Abstract
In this article, Goodenough examines the place of origin of the Chuuk islanders. Oral history refers to a place called KACHAW, which some scholars have identified with the island of Kosrae, about 800 km to the east of Chuuk. However, other scholars disagree, pointing to the fact that Kosrae was a high island without a seafaring tradition. According to Goodenough, the etymology of the name 'Kachaw' does not correspond to the Kosrean word for Kosrae, but rather to the word KARAWA, meaning 'sky,' the home of spirits. Micronesian cosmology places the sky world beyond the horizon, and anything 'that drifts in from beyond the horizon as coming from that world (559).' Clan patron deities also live in the sky world and are the focus of clan-based cults. The shrines to such gods were on the basaltic peaks of the high islands, and basaltic monoliths were carried to the atolls with the spread of the clans. Goodenough argues that the high island Ponape, to the east of Chuuk, was the major center of influence in the region, and the origin of the clan which settled Chuuk. The name of the dominant clan on Chuuk, SOPWUNUPI, has no meaning in Chuukese, but can be loosely translated as 'district of PII,' which corresponds to the Ponape word meaning 'stone altar.'

Traditional history

Historical reconstruction

Sacred objects and places

Chuuk

HRAF PubDate

1999

Region

Oceania